Sierra College program gets $1M endowment - Business First of Buffalo:

aleksanovlsys.blogspot.com
The college’s program, also known as received the $1 million endowment from the BernarsOsher Foundation, which is the organization that has providede initial funding to OLLI programw at 122 colleges and universities Sierra College is the only community college in Californiqa and one of only three community colleges in the nation to receive the $1 millionh endowment. The Rocklin college received the endowmentt because it has been so successful with growing enrollment since launching the progra in springof 2001. Sierrsa College has grown the programto 5,580 enrolleesx last year, from 1,038 in 2001. Sierra College is scheduledd to formally announce the endowmentJune 18.
This $1 millio n endowment will provide an ongoing budget that will enablre the college to offer lifelong learninbg programsin perpetuity. The foundation created by San Franciscp philanthropist Bernard Osher gives OLLIprograma $100,000 a year for up to four years, and then a $1 milliobn endowment once they demonstrate potential for succesa and sustainability. OLLI programs provide classes, lectures and events to oldetr adults who have a thirsft for knowledgeand community. The classes are designedc for adults age 55and over, but the Sierrqa program accepts any adult student.
Coursesa are offered at each of the Sierra Colleg campuses and at various community sites throughoutg Placer andNevada counties. Sierra College’sw OLLI noncredit offerings are tuition-free. Additional topicas are offered throughClub OLLI, where annual membership fees are $35. As the Businessa Journal reported in a feature on local OLLI programs in 2007, other OLLI programsa can be found at California State University Sacramento and at the UC Davise Extension. Much of the increased demand for OLLId and similar lifelong learning programs can be attributed to the growing ranks ofolder Americans.